Irish Election Literature

… what you maybe meant to keep…

Paddy Gallagher, Tony Wright – Workers Party 1987 Waterford. December 8, 2009


Paddy Gallagher had briefly been a TD between February and November 1982 when won a seat from Fianna Fails Billy Kenneally.
In November 1982 Fianna Fail won the seat back.It had been felt that Gallagher hadn’t done enough to protect jobs in Waterford.
Aside from Fianna Fail Gallagher was also hit on the left by two Independent candidates, Terry Moroney who had been part of a march from Dungarvan to Dublin protesting against Youth Unemployment and also Thomas Brennan who had been formerly a leading light in the local Labour Party.
Brian O’Shea of Labours vote held steady at around 4% in both the February and November 82 elections.
Tony Wright was added to the 1987 ticket to cover the Dungarvan side of Waterford.

Amongst the policies listed in this 1987 campaign leaflet… The idea of an agricultural Development Authority seemed innovative and, as now, Health and Social Welfare cuts are part of the bigger parties plans. Plenty of other things of interest there also.

We also have the achievements of the Workers Party TDs in the previous Dail.

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“Young People ‘CAN’ Make a Difference” Workers Party Youth – 1991 leaflet November 23, 2009


“Young People ‘CAN’ Make a Difference” a 1991 leaflet from Workers’ Party Youth.  In it amongst other things we get the ‘Youth Agenda’ for 1991.

 

Win £10 – ‘Dun Laoghaire People’ – Eamon Gilmore -Workers Party 1986 October 29, 2009


A couple of nice things in this from Summer 1986. A number of Workers Party  ‘papers’ had the ‘People’ title. A ‘Dublin People’ was produced for the 1994 European elections and of course the Workers Party weekly paper was ‘Tomorrows People’.
This was produced in part as a reaction to the proposed introduction of Water Rates. There’s a great competition to win £10. I wonder how many entries B Maguire had through the door and indeed who won?
So on the front they were giving away money , however on the reverse they were looking for money! … Whilst others had big business and Unions to fund them, The Workers Party relied ‘entirely on contributions from our members, supporters and friends’.
874 houses in Dun Laoghaire didn’t have bathrooms, yet there were over 1000 on the dole. Why not get them to repair the housing stock?

dlpa

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Des Geraghty -Workers Party 1984 Euro Elections October 25, 2009


Union official (and since President of SIPTU) Geraghty stood for the Workers Party in the 1984 Euro elections getting 19,590 votes, almost 7%.

geraghty1

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Proinsias DeRossa – Workers Party Euro 89 October 16, 2009


The 1989 Euro elections, a breakthrough as Proinsias DeRossa wins the seat. The style and content of this leaflet was refered to in ‘The Lost Revolution’. The centrepiece where he has the three people was novel at the time.
“Sean is from the Southside ..Dolores is from the Northside..” I wonder where they are now?

Also the leaflet is addressed to my family rather than to each of the then 5 voters in the house. Similar for the Workers Party General election Candidate, probably illustrates how tight funds were at the time.

deRossaeuro89a

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